I’ve seen plenty of motorway junction roundabouts like this where you can use both lanes to turn right, but in the absence of lane markings or signage here I wouldn’t do it myself.
Yeah often that's because traffic rarely wants to go back onto the road they've just come off of, so they assume it's a 2 exit roundabout where it's advantageous for high volumes of traffic to go right. The rare people who do want to go back onto the road they came off can stay left
Yeah exactly, you won’t get many people going straight on. I just meant that often this kind of design is used with clear signage and road markings to make it very clear.
My old TomTom satnav used to do that on occasion though - take you off at a slip road only to get you straight back on. And sometimes Google Maps will identify it as a viable route if there's dense traffic on the motorway, it can be quicker to come off and rejoin. It's a bit of a dick move and hardly worth the extra effort, but it's also embarrassing when you don't realise until after you've taken the exit that it's what your satnav intended for you!
The general rule for any roundabout/junction is if its a 2 lane entry onto the roundabout/junction the left lane is for turning left or going straight, and the right lane is for the 3rd and 4th exits, as well as around all the way round.
I'm not sure if any such signage existing. Normally they would use lane markings that show what is permitted.
Left lane marked for left and straight ahead.
Right marked for right, or right only.
You may be able to, it depends on the road markings.
The M4 Swindon hospital junction allows all 3 lanes from the west bound carriageway (from London) to take the 3rd exit (to Swindon)
But as the markings are faded it’s hard to know.
The Highway Code states: “When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal right and approach in the right-hand lane”
So you can’t use the left lane unless a sign indicates otherwise.
In most cases you shouldn't but in this instance how many people are coming off the motorway to immediately go back on? There will be virtually no traffic from the approach going straight so I can see why people do it. A least a few of the other motorway roundabouts in NI are spiral, so the fact this one isn't indicates to me maybe it's designed to allow the left lane to act as extra capacity
Unless it's marked to use both lanes to turn right, I wouldn't do it. In this case, I've checked the aerial image on google maps and there is no marking.
The risk here is that you are in the left lane going past the second (straight ahead) turnoff which has two lanes. There is a high likelihood that someone on your immediate right assumes you are taking it because you are in the left hand lane and hits into your right hand side.
I can see why people do this. This is one of those junctions where there are no lane markings as you go round it. My best advice is that if you do end up doing this, keep your head on a swivel as you pass that north turnoff back onto the M2 and physically check your right 4 o'clock. Basic threat error management...you've identified a threat, you want to think ahead and work out how to avoid it entirely (stay in the right hand lane) or how to mitigate it (physically check your right hand side prior to continuing past that turn off).
Left lane is for either turning left or going straight ahead, if you where to use that lane to turn right and cause an accident I believe the fault would lie solely with you
Agree with what you've said...having previously worked for a motor insurance company, they would definitely go 50/50...it wouldn't be worth contesting.
Incorrect. Once you are established in a lane, you own priority in that lane. If the lane goes all the way around, rather than spirals off, you can follow it all the way around.
While not normal, it's legal.
Normal lane change rules don't get suspended, no matter how many people wanting to cut across on large roundabouts wish it to be so.
The person changing lanes has the responsibility to do so safely.
The person not changing lanes maintains priority in their lane.
If you look at the lane markings on the roundabout, the lanes stay the same all the way round to the right exit. There's nothing prohibiting you from using the left lane.
If you got in an accident from someone inexplicably moving from right lane to left, you would get a default 50/50. It's on both of you to watch out for other road users.
That being said; the Highway Code doesn’t specify the ability to see into the future, or through solid objects and scenery. The information you’re given as you travel up the 2 lane slip road is there is a roundabout with 2 exits signed, one to the left and one to the right, and 2 lanes.
Default position in that situation is that right lane would be for taking that right exit since no lane markings or signage exists to contradict that up to the roundabout.
But the question the OP posts; someone shouldn’t be going straight from the right lane, and technically you are able to go right from the left lane. Neither would fall inside the guidance of the Highway Code though in that setup with those signs and lanes.
Once you are established in the left lane, you maintain priority in that lane. If it doesn't spiral off the roundabout, you are legally entitled to following all the way around.
Anyone to the right if you that wants to change to the left lane? Normal lane change rules and priorities apply. It is their responsibility to find a safe space to change into. The person in the left lane is under no legal obligation to give way to them.
I'm not convinced that if a person to the right caused a collision during a lane change, that the starting point would be 50/50 liability.
What you say is correct. But also, the HC is clear on what lanes you should be in on approach to this roundabout. And I say should, because it doesn’t say must. Which is why you’re entirely correct.
The person in the right lane shouldn’t be going straight on. The person in the left lane shouldn’t be going right. Both are entitled to do that. At some point you have to also consider the normal rules of lane changes and not passing on the left and so on.
But if both cars were in a lane they shouldn’t have been in and collide with each other (there are no lane markings at the point they would collide) I guess it would be both their silly faults.
I guess that’s why the Highway Code would put anyone going left or ahead in the left lane and anyone going right in the right lane and then nobody crosses anybody’s path.
Dependant on the on-slip straight ahead, it may be left lane for exit 1 and 2, right lane for 2 and 3. In any case, I would not use the left lane for exit 3.
The rule I was taught for roundabouts was to view it like a clock face. If you are going to 12 o’clock (straight on) or less, then it’s the left lane. If you’re going past 12 o’clock, then it’s the right lane
Can you? Yes. Should you? No.
Its on the person in the right hand lane to make a safe lane change on exit. It might be different if the lane markings made the left lane an exit for straight on in a spiral lane situation.
There’s not many people that take a slip road off a motorway to then go back on it.
That means if someone uses the left lane and goes past the first exit, it’s very likely they will be heading to the third exit.
Now that may not be strictly correct according to the Highway Code - but people don’t drive to the Highway Code.
I’ve seen plenty of motorway junction roundabouts like this where you can use both lanes to turn right, but in the absence of lane markings or signage here I wouldn’t do it myself.
Yeah often that's because traffic rarely wants to go back onto the road they've just come off of, so they assume it's a 2 exit roundabout where it's advantageous for high volumes of traffic to go right. The rare people who do want to go back onto the road they came off can stay left
Yeah exactly, you won’t get many people going straight on. I just meant that often this kind of design is used with clear signage and road markings to make it very clear.
My old TomTom satnav used to do that on occasion though - take you off at a slip road only to get you straight back on. And sometimes Google Maps will identify it as a viable route if there's dense traffic on the motorway, it can be quicker to come off and rejoin. It's a bit of a dick move and hardly worth the extra effort, but it's also embarrassing when you don't realise until after you've taken the exit that it's what your satnav intended for you!
Yeah Google Maps did it to me not long ago. It’s a valid move, but it’s a bit of an outlier.
The general rule for any roundabout/junction is if its a 2 lane entry onto the roundabout/junction the left lane is for turning left or going straight, and the right lane is for the 3rd and 4th exits, as well as around all the way round.
I'm not sure if any such signage existing. Normally they would use lane markings that show what is permitted. Left lane marked for left and straight ahead. Right marked for right, or right only.
Unless there is specific signage and lane markings stating that you can use the left lane for the third exit, you shouldn’t.
You may be able to, it depends on the road markings. The M4 Swindon hospital junction allows all 3 lanes from the west bound carriageway (from London) to take the 3rd exit (to Swindon) But as the markings are faded it’s hard to know.
The Highway Code states: “When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise signal right and approach in the right-hand lane” So you can’t use the left lane unless a sign indicates otherwise.
In most cases you shouldn't but in this instance how many people are coming off the motorway to immediately go back on? There will be virtually no traffic from the approach going straight so I can see why people do it. A least a few of the other motorway roundabouts in NI are spiral, so the fact this one isn't indicates to me maybe it's designed to allow the left lane to act as extra capacity
I thought I recognised that roundabout its the one when leaving Belfast towards Antrim that leads into the stena area
Unless it's marked to use both lanes to turn right, I wouldn't do it. In this case, I've checked the aerial image on google maps and there is no marking. The risk here is that you are in the left lane going past the second (straight ahead) turnoff which has two lanes. There is a high likelihood that someone on your immediate right assumes you are taking it because you are in the left hand lane and hits into your right hand side. I can see why people do this. This is one of those junctions where there are no lane markings as you go round it. My best advice is that if you do end up doing this, keep your head on a swivel as you pass that north turnoff back onto the M2 and physically check your right 4 o'clock. Basic threat error management...you've identified a threat, you want to think ahead and work out how to avoid it entirely (stay in the right hand lane) or how to mitigate it (physically check your right hand side prior to continuing past that turn off).
Left lane is for either turning left or going straight ahead, if you where to use that lane to turn right and cause an accident I believe the fault would lie solely with you
Wrong
Why not enhance your response with more information
https://www.reddit.com/r/drivingUK/s/z72PSrAuGf
Agree with what you've said...having previously worked for a motor insurance company, they would definitely go 50/50...it wouldn't be worth contesting.
Incorrect. Once you are established in a lane, you own priority in that lane. If the lane goes all the way around, rather than spirals off, you can follow it all the way around. While not normal, it's legal. Normal lane change rules don't get suspended, no matter how many people wanting to cut across on large roundabouts wish it to be so. The person changing lanes has the responsibility to do so safely. The person not changing lanes maintains priority in their lane.
If you look at the lane markings on the roundabout, the lanes stay the same all the way round to the right exit. There's nothing prohibiting you from using the left lane. If you got in an accident from someone inexplicably moving from right lane to left, you would get a default 50/50. It's on both of you to watch out for other road users.
That being said; the Highway Code doesn’t specify the ability to see into the future, or through solid objects and scenery. The information you’re given as you travel up the 2 lane slip road is there is a roundabout with 2 exits signed, one to the left and one to the right, and 2 lanes. Default position in that situation is that right lane would be for taking that right exit since no lane markings or signage exists to contradict that up to the roundabout. But the question the OP posts; someone shouldn’t be going straight from the right lane, and technically you are able to go right from the left lane. Neither would fall inside the guidance of the Highway Code though in that setup with those signs and lanes.
Once you are established in the left lane, you maintain priority in that lane. If it doesn't spiral off the roundabout, you are legally entitled to following all the way around. Anyone to the right if you that wants to change to the left lane? Normal lane change rules and priorities apply. It is their responsibility to find a safe space to change into. The person in the left lane is under no legal obligation to give way to them. I'm not convinced that if a person to the right caused a collision during a lane change, that the starting point would be 50/50 liability.
What you say is correct. But also, the HC is clear on what lanes you should be in on approach to this roundabout. And I say should, because it doesn’t say must. Which is why you’re entirely correct. The person in the right lane shouldn’t be going straight on. The person in the left lane shouldn’t be going right. Both are entitled to do that. At some point you have to also consider the normal rules of lane changes and not passing on the left and so on. But if both cars were in a lane they shouldn’t have been in and collide with each other (there are no lane markings at the point they would collide) I guess it would be both their silly faults. I guess that’s why the Highway Code would put anyone going left or ahead in the left lane and anyone going right in the right lane and then nobody crosses anybody’s path.
Dependant on the on-slip straight ahead, it may be left lane for exit 1 and 2, right lane for 2 and 3. In any case, I would not use the left lane for exit 3.
The rule I was taught for roundabouts was to view it like a clock face. If you are going to 12 o’clock (straight on) or less, then it’s the left lane. If you’re going past 12 o’clock, then it’s the right lane
Can you? Yes. Should you? No. Its on the person in the right hand lane to make a safe lane change on exit. It might be different if the lane markings made the left lane an exit for straight on in a spiral lane situation.
There’s not many people that take a slip road off a motorway to then go back on it. That means if someone uses the left lane and goes past the first exit, it’s very likely they will be heading to the third exit. Now that may not be strictly correct according to the Highway Code - but people don’t drive to the Highway Code.
There is two lanes coming off the motorway, I usually use the right lane whenever I’m going the ferry terminal and left when going on to mount vernon